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We’re in Texas. Finally, I can blog about it.

We’re here in Austin, TX for my Dad’s surprise 70th birthday party, of which I’ll blog about at a later date. Right now, I have to tell you about a little side trip we took to Dallas.

We arrived in Austin LATE Friday night. My Dad’s party was on Saturday. On Sunday morning after church, Dan, the kids and I headed north to Dallas. We went to visit my very, very, very good friend Michelle and her family, as well as Sarah and her family. Not only do I not know when we’ll get to Dallas again, but Michelle is the one who lost her dad recently. I had to see her, if only for a little while.

We drove up, celebrated her boys’ birthdays at a bounce house with about 100 other kids and then went back to their house, where we were met by Sarah and her family. We ate, drank, talked and swam (kids and dads, anyway) all afternoon.

Since Michelle and Juan were heading to Cancun for a much-needed family vacation early the next morning, rather than crash at their place, Juan set us up with a free hotel room a free suite and adjoining room at The Magnolia in downtown, where he works.

Holy crap, Batman! We were stylin’! You should have seen the place! Feather beds on all the beds. High-count sheets. Starbucks coffee in all the rooms. Artwork on the walls. (Not the kind you see starving artists selling on the side of the road, either, but real, gallery, artwork.) Huge bathtubs and fluffy robes (the kind that sell for $45 in the lobby.)

We were impressed.

We were on the 12th floor, in an end-suite and connecting room, so we had a great view of the streets of downtown. Dan and I felt like kids in a candy store with our pockets full of money. It’s the nicest room we’ve ever stayed in. We didn’t exactly jump on the beds, but, like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, we were pretty excited to be stying in such a posh environment.

I don’t know how the other guests felt about us in our rumpled play clothes, my mommy uniform and our ripped luggage (avoid luggage shopping at Target), but oh, well. We sure enjoyed ourselves!